7 April 2010
Today I visited the site of the proposed housing development to the North of Wymondham to see for myself the area of outstanding beauty that will be lost if the proposed large scale housing proposal goes ahead.
This area - Wymondham's green belt and green 'lung' - is an important part of what makes Wymondham such a special market town. I worry that the scale, speed and design of the development will detract from, rather than add to, the quality of our town. We need houses, of course, but they need to be planned as part of a wider long term PLAN for our area, not a quick 'house dump' for the Government to hit a Target and a developer to make a quick buck.
We need to build in the right infrastructure, green field space, woodland, playgrounds, paths, and house layout using local materials and design and incorporating the right mix of housing to meet local needs, so that any development is something we can be proud of.
Councillor Martin Wynne (pictured) gave me a detailed tour today, and it is clear that S Norfolk council have put together a sensible long term plan and our local councillors are doing a good job making sure local people's voices are heard. They must be listened to properly in a real 'consultation'.
Over the last 3 years through my project The Norfolk Way has been working to stop this 'top down' approach to planning and get back to a more local and sustainable model. The Norfolk Way is a campaign that insists we ought not to have to choose between being a rural backwater or a concrete housing estate. With a more enlightened approach to smaller scale local housing, jobs back in the villages and investment in broadband, roads and rail, we could have a vibrant and sustainable economy in Norfolk.
All of us concerned should make enough noise to send a loud message to all future developers that Wymondham is not a soft touch.
We need to get right away from the whole notion of developers and London 'planners' forcing us into a corner by a war of attrition, and back to a more positive process in which we, the people of Norfolk and Wymondham lay out a vision of the sort of place we want to see for our grandchilldren, and then insist on it through the offices we pay and vote for.
I look forward to working with local residents to try and make sure a sensible Plan for the area is put together - and stuck to.
Photos: George Freeman and Cllr Martin Wynne visiting the site of the proposed 'Greater Wymondham' housing development.
This area - Wymondham's green belt and green 'lung' - is an important part of what makes Wymondham such a special market town. I worry that the scale, speed and design of the development will detract from, rather than add to, the quality of our town. We need houses, of course, but they need to be planned as part of a wider long term PLAN for our area, not a quick 'house dump' for the Government to hit a Target and a developer to make a quick buck.
We need to build in the right infrastructure, green field space, woodland, playgrounds, paths, and house layout using local materials and design and incorporating the right mix of housing to meet local needs, so that any development is something we can be proud of.
Councillor Martin Wynne (pictured) gave me a detailed tour today, and it is clear that S Norfolk council have put together a sensible long term plan and our local councillors are doing a good job making sure local people's voices are heard. They must be listened to properly in a real 'consultation'.
Over the last 3 years through my project The Norfolk Way has been working to stop this 'top down' approach to planning and get back to a more local and sustainable model. The Norfolk Way is a campaign that insists we ought not to have to choose between being a rural backwater or a concrete housing estate. With a more enlightened approach to smaller scale local housing, jobs back in the villages and investment in broadband, roads and rail, we could have a vibrant and sustainable economy in Norfolk.
All of us concerned should make enough noise to send a loud message to all future developers that Wymondham is not a soft touch.
We need to get right away from the whole notion of developers and London 'planners' forcing us into a corner by a war of attrition, and back to a more positive process in which we, the people of Norfolk and Wymondham lay out a vision of the sort of place we want to see for our grandchilldren, and then insist on it through the offices we pay and vote for.
I look forward to working with local residents to try and make sure a sensible Plan for the area is put together - and stuck to.
Photos: George Freeman and Cllr Martin Wynne visiting the site of the proposed 'Greater Wymondham' housing development.
